Compressor



Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROMEO I. NAEDONEyOF ORANGE, JERSEY, ASSIGNOB 10 ECLIPSE AVIATION CORPORATION, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY COMIPRESSOR Application filed April 4,

A compressors of the reciprocating piston type.

will become apparent upon inspection of the following specification and. the'accompany- An object of the invention isto provide a compressor of novel construction adapted to be mounted on an automobile, airplane or other automotive device for the purpose of supplyingcompressed air for starting, air conditioning and other uses.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- vide, in conjunction with a compressor of the engine driven type, novel means for translating the rotation of the driving member to a reciprocatory movement of the compressing member.

A further, object of the invention is to provide novel drive'transmitting means of the foregoing character embodying a novel crankshaft construction wherein the crankshaft serves not only to translate rotary mo tion to reciprocatory motion, but also operates as a means for procuring rotation at right angles tothe axis of rotation of the driving member. In this connection a feature of the invention is the provision of a combined gear and crankshaft having a hearing portion mounted eccentrically on the said gear and rotatable therewith about an axis at right angles to the axis of rotation of the driving member.

' A further object of the invention is -to provide a novel combination of valve mechanisms for regulating the compressing action of a compressor of the foregoing type;

. Another object of this invention is to provide I compact, symmetrical and eflicient mounting and operating meansfor an engine driven compressor.

These and other objects of the invention ing drawing, wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is intendedmerely to serve as an illustration of one mode of embodying the invention in a practical-form, and is not designed as a definition of the limits of the 1nvention, reference being had for this .purpose to the appended claims.

1931. Serial No. 527,772.

In the drawing, the invention is shown embodied in a cylinder 1 preferably provided with cooling fins 2, the cylinder being mounted in the cylindrical member 3 constituting a portion of the crankcase and having openings on either side thereof for the reception of cover plates 4 and 5, the former being provided with a recessed hub 6 in which a bearing member 7 rotatably supports a crankshaft 8 of novel construction to he further described hereinafter.

One of the features of the combination is the novel construction of the c linder 1 which, as shown, has its upper and ower portions of different diameter, these portions being connected by' a conically bored-portion, as shown at 10,. The piston is likewise provided with anexternal surface of conical formation, as shown at 11, the section 11 serving to connect the upper cylindrical section 12 with the lower section 10.v With the piston in its lowermost position, as indicated in the drawing, theshoulder 11 thereof preferably lies adjacent the shoulder 10 of the cylinder, with the enlarged head 12 fitting snugly in the upper cylinder portion 13 and. the lower end of the piston likewise fitting snugly in the lower portion of the cylinder, suitable piston rings 15 and 16 being provided to insure maintenance of compression.

With the construction just described, it will be apparent that the head portion 12 of the piston serves to divide the cylinder 1 into two compression chambers 17 and 18, the former being cylindrical in shape and the latter being of annular shape, and the two varying inversely in capacity as the piston is reciprocated by the driving means to be described.

The novel pressure controlling means, 10- e'ated in part on the cylinder and in part on the piston, preferably comprises a pair of automatically operated valves 20 and 21. As shown, the valve '20 controls the inlet port constituted by the provision of an outthreaded surface for reception of a correspondingly threaded bushing 24, the latter having a transversely disposed web on which there is centrally provided a sleeve 31 serving as a guiding means for the stem of the valve 20, the head 27 of which is provided with a conical surface adapted to register with the correspondingly tapered-end 28 of the bushing 24. The stem of the valve 20 is surrounded by a spring 26, which presses against a collar 30 and also abuts the web 25, thereby normally maintaining the valve head 27 on the seat 28.

The discharge valve 21, which cooperates with the above described inlet valve 20, preferably comprises a ball member 29 normally resting in a socket provided in screw 33 threaded to the lower end of a sleeve 34, the said sleeve having an upper flange 35 registering with a cylindrical recess .provided in the upper surface of the piston head 12. As shown,.the flange 35 has a central opening 36, the inner end of which is tapered to provide a seat for the ball 29, to which seat the ball is urged when the pressure in the chamber 17 is less than thatin the valve chamber, the latter being in communication with the compression chamber 18 by virtue of the provision of a suitable radially disposed passage 39 extending inwardly from the sloping surface 11 of the piston into communication with the discharge valve chamber.

The third coo rating valve unit of the combination preifrably takes the form of another ball member 46 mounted to register with a passage 42 extending through the wall of cylinder 1 in a position to communicate with the passage 39, a cage for the ball member 46 being constituted by the inner threaded end 44 of a plug 43 adapted to register with a correspondin ly tapped hole in the hub 45 of the cylin er casing, the plug 43 being provided with a shoulder 41 'to limit the inward movement thereof and thereby insure movement of the ball 46 away from the opening 42 in response to creation of a pressure in said opening greater than that in the passage 48, the latter leading to any device to which it is desired to carry com pressed air.

The novel driving means for the piston preferably comprises the provision of-a novel crankshaft construction permitting installation of cylinder 1 in coaxial alignment with the drive shaft 50, the latter being rotatably supported by suitable bearing members 51 and 52 in the lower section 53 of the casin said section 53 having flanges '54 and 55 a apted to register with the cover plates 4 and 5 respectively. In the embodiment shown, the novel crankshaft construction comprises the provision of a bevelled gear 56 preferably formed integrally with the crankshaft ortion 57 to which the connecting rod 58 is secured by suitable means 59,

the opposite end of the connecting rod being provided with a bearing member 60v adapted to receive thepiston wrist pin 61. As shown, the bevelled gear 56, which is adapted to mesh with the correspondingly bevelled pinion 63 formed on the end of drive shaft- 50, has a hub 64 rotatably supported on a bearing member 65 mounted in the hub is provided through the gear 56 and bear-' ing 57 as indicated at 72, the upper end of passage 72 communicating with the centrally disposed opening 74 through which the lubricant may be admitted, a suitable plug 75 being provided to lead the lubricant to opening 74. The bearing 65 is also assured sufficient lubrication by virtue of oil seepage past bushing 70, while the retaining member 77 of the bearing is adapted to be held in position'by suitable means which preferably takes the form of the through bolt '78. Passage 76 permits return to the crankcase of the excess oil in the chamber 81, while suitable drains (not shown) in member 53 may relieve a similar excess in the crankcase.

Having thus identified the parts included in the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated, the operation thereof will now be briefly described.

The compressor being operatively connected to an engine or other source of power for rotating a drive shaft 50, such rotation will cause reciprocation of the piston through the instrumentality of the gears 63 and 56 and connecting rod 58. As the piston travels downwardly from its extreme upper position to the position shown in the drawing, the resultant suction permits the pressure of the atmosphere to open valve 20 against the force of the spring 26, thereby allowing air to enter between the valve seat 28 and valve head 27 and pass into the com ression chamber 17. This action continues uring the downward stroke of the piston until atmospheric pressure is achieved in the chamber 17, whereupon s ring 26 is eifective to returnthe valve head 2 to its seat, thereby preventing further entry or escape'of air from the chamber 17.

Upon the upward stroke of the piston, the

air thus entrapped in the compression chamber 17 is compressed until its pressure equals that of the air in annular chamber 18. When such condition of balanced pressures is achieved, the ball 29 drops of its own weight away from the opening 36, and thus permits free flow of the compressed 'air into chamber 18 and through the passages 42 and 48 of the discharge valve, the ball 42 being normally inclined toward open position to permit this delivery of air to the storage tank or other receiver, and being adapted to cut oil such delivery only upon creation'of a pressure on the discharge side of the valve in excess of that obtaining in the chamber 18.

The action just described continues until the upward stroke is completed, by which time practically all the air in the chamber 17 has been forced into the annular chamber 18.

Now as the piston begins its second down-- mechanisms as above described, so that (if the air is being admitted to a storage tank) the pressure of the stored fluid will rise steadily until it becomes too great to permit of further compressing action?prior to which time the operation may, of course, be

discontinued through the action of suitable cut-off means.

There has thus been described the construction and method of operation of a novel compressor having associated therewith novel pressure controlling means and novel driving means permitting the installation of the cylinder with its axis in alignment with the axis of a driving member. While the construction herein shown isknown to be of considerable I practical merit, it is contemplated that changes will be made in the construction thereof within the scope of the appended a crankcase of a cylinder mounted thereon,

a piston in said c linder, said piston having two. portions of difierent diameter, a recess in the portion of said piston of larger diameter,a valve in said recess, a valve'chamber in said cylinder, and a valve 1n sald valve chamber normall inclined toward open position to permit passage of fluid from said cylinder through said valve chamber, said valve being adapted to cut 011' discharge of fluid from said cvlinder only upon creation of a higher fluid pressure in said valve chamber than that in said cylinder.

2. Ina compressor of the type adapted to v maintain a supply of compressed fluid in a reservoir, in combination, a cylinder and'piston and means for reciprocating said piston in said cylinder,a chamber in said cylinder inrwhich air may be compressed in response to the reciprocation of said piston, a passage leadingfrom said chamber to said reservoir. and means in said passage for controlling the discharge of the fluid from said chamber into said reservoir, said means'c'omprising a ball-check valve movable to cut ofi communication between said chamber and reservoir only upon the establishment of a fiuid pressure differential therebetween in favor of said reservoir.

3. In a compressor of the type adapted to maintain a supply of'compressed fluid in a reservoir, in combination, a cylinder and piston, and means for reciprocating said piston in said cylinder, a chamber in said cylinder in which air may be compressed in response to the reciprocation of said piston,a passage leading from said chamber to said: reservoir, means in said passage for controlling the discharge of the fluid from said phamber into said reservoir, said means comprising a ballcheck valve movable to cut off communication between said chamber and reservoir only upon the establishment of a fluid pressure differential therebetween in favor of said reservoir, and means for admitting a fresh charge of fluid to said chamber on the weed ing stroke of said piston, said means compr1sing a second ball-check valve adapted to control the passage of fluid into said chamber from the space into which said piston moves during said receding stroke.

4. In a compressor of the type adapted to maintain a supply of compressed fluid in a reservoir in comblnation, a cylinder and piston, and means for reciprocatingvsaid piston in said cylinder, a chamber in said cylinder in which air may be compressed in response to the reciprocation of said piston, a passage leading from said chamber to sald reservoir, means in said passage for controlling the discharge of the fluid from said chamber into said reservoir, said means comprising a ball-check valve movable to cut off communication between said chamber and reservoir only upon the establishment of a fluid pressure difierential therebetween 1n favor of said reservoir, and means for admitting a fresh charge of fluid to said chamber on the receding stroke of said piston, said means comprising a second ball-check valve adapted to control the passage of fluid nto said compressor chamber from the space mto which said piston moves during said receding stroke, said second valve being closeable by the pressure built up in said chamber during the advancing stroke of said piston.

5. In a compressor, the combination with a crank-case and a cylinder mounted thereupon, of a piston in said cylinder, means for establishin' reciprocation of said piston comprising a rive shaft rotatable about an axis disposed in alignment with the axis of said piston, a gear drivabl connected to said drive shaft, a cranksha rotatable with said gear, said crankshaft having a bearing pin constituting an eccentrically disposed extension of said gear, means for drivably connecting said crankshaft and piston, means extending through said gear for conveying lubricant to said connecting means and hearing pin and a cover late for preventing loss of the lubricant wit in said gear, said cover plate being recessed to receive the hub of said gear.

6. In a compressor of the type adapted to maintain a supply of compressed fluid in a reservoir, in combination, a cylinder and piston, means for reciprocating said piston in said cylinder, a chamber in said cylinder in which air may be compressed in response to the reciprocation of said piston, a passage leading from said chamber into said reservoir, means in said passage for permitting discharge of the fluid from said chamber into said reservoir durin the entire compressing stroke of said piston, said means comprising a ball-check valve movable to cut off communication between said chamber and reservoir only u on the establishment of a fluid pressure ifierential therebetween in favor of said reservoir, means for admitting a fresh charge of fluid to said compressor chamber onthe opposite stroke of said piston, said means comprising a second ballcheck valve adapted to permit free passage of fluid into said compressor chamber from the space into which said piston moves dur-' ing said opposite stroke, said second valve being closable by the pressurev built up in said compression chamber during the compressing stroke of said piston, and a third valve for controlling the admission of fluid to said second chamber.

7. In a compressor of the type adapted to maintain a supply of compressed fluid in a reservoir, in combination, a cylinder and piston, means for reciprocating said iston in said cylinder, a chamber in said cy inder in which air may be compressed in response to the reciprocation of said piston, a passage leading from said chamber to said reservoir,

means in said passage for permitting the discharge of the 'fluid from said chamber into said reservoir during the entire compressing stroke of said piston, said means comprising a ball-check valve movable to. cut off communication between said chamber and reservoir only upon the establishment of a fluid pressure difl'erential therebetween in favor of said reservoir, means for admitting a fresh charge of fluid to said compressor chamber on the opposite stroke of said piston, said means comprising a second ball-check valve adapted to permit free passage of fluid into said compressor chamber fromv the space into which said piston moves during said opposite stroke, said second valve being closa 10 b the pressure built up in said compression 0 amber during the compressing stroke of said piston, a third valve for controlling the admission of fluid to said second chamber, and means for maintaining said valve closed during the time said second named valve is in the open position.

8. In a compressor of the type adapted to maintain a supply of compressed fluld in a reservoir, in combination, a cylinder andpiston, means for reciprocating said piston in said cylinder, a chamber in said cylinder in which air may be compressed in response to the reciprocation of said piston, apassage rom sa1d chamber to sa1d reservolr,

leading means in said passage for permitting the discharge of the fluid from said chamber into said reservoir during the entire compressing stroke of said piston, said means com rising a ball-check valve movable to cut 0 communication between said chamber and said reservoir only upon the establishment of a fluid pressure differential therebetween in favor of said reservoir, means for admitting a fresh charge of fluid to said compressor chamber on the opposite stroke'of said piston, said means comprising a second ball-check valve adapted to permitfree passage of fluid into said compressor chamberjfrom the space into which said piston moves during said op osite stroke, said second valve being closa e b the pressure built up in said compression 0 amber during the compressing stroke of said piston, a third valve for controlling the admlssion of fluid to said second chamber, and means for resisting opening said third valve duringthe time said second valve is open comprising a spring engageable with said valve and adapted to exert a pressure thereupon less than the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere.

9. In a compressor, the combination with a crankcase and a cylinder mounted thereupon of a piston in said cylinder, means for disposed in alignment with the axis of said piston, a gear drivabl connected to said drive shaft, a cranksha t rotatable with said gear means for drivably connecting said cran shaft and piston, means extending through said gear for-conveying lubricant to said connecting means and crankshaft, and a cover plate for preventing loss of the lubricant within said gear, said cover plate being recessed to receive the hub of said gear.

connected to said drive shaft, a crankshaft 10. In a compressor, the combination with 1 rotatable with said gear, said crankshaft havin a bearing pin constituting an eccentrica 1y disposed extension of said gear, means for drivably connecting said crankshaft and piston, means extending through said gear for conveying lubricant to said connecting means and bearing pin, and a cover plate for preventing loss of the lubricant within said gear, said cover plate being recessed to receive the hub of said gear.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

ROMEO M. NARDONE. 

